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Michael Goodman

administrator

Michael Goodman he/his/him

Professor

Public Policy

Contact

508-999-8788

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Claire T. Carney Library 356

Education

2000Boston UniversityPhD
1998Boston UniversityMA

Teaching

  • Social Science Research Methods
  • Public Management
  • Policy Analysis

Teaching

Courses

Overview of the responsibilities of a public administrator in the context of specific areas of public management, to create a context of professional understanding for the public policy professional. Areas include organizational structure; strategic planning; management decision-making; staffing, training, and motivating employees; leadership development; budgeting, program design, implementation, and evaluation; ethical considerations for public managers, and providing support to policy makers.

A policy-related internship tailored to each students' career preferences or academic interests. The selection of an internship venue will occur in consultation with the student's MPP advisor and with the approval of the MPP Internship Coordinator. The Internship venue is usually selected from a pre-approved list of local, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and private sector businesses. Note: The field work component of the internship (2 credits) is waived if an individual has at least two years substantial and relevant work experience in a policy making or public management position, although students must still enroll in the academic course component (one credit) of the internship to graduate.

Teaching

Online and Continuing Education Courses

Overview of the responsibilities of a public administrator in the context of specific areas of public management, to create a context of professional understanding for the public policy professional. Areas include organizational structure; strategic planning; management decision-making; staffing, training, and motivating employees; leadership development; budgeting, program design, implementation, and evaluation; ethical considerations for public managers, and providing support to policy makers.
Register for this course.

A policy-related internship tailored to each students' career preferences or academic interests. The selection of an internship venue will occur in consultation with the student's MPP advisor and with the approval of the MPP Internship Coordinator. The Internship venue is usually selected from a pre-approved list of local, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and private sector businesses. Note: The field work component of the internship (2 credits) is waived if an individual has at least two years substantial and relevant work experience in a policy making or public management position, although students must still enroll in the academic course component (one credit) of the internship to graduate.
Register for this course.

Research

Research awards

  • $ 191,735 awarded by MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER for Offshore Wind Student Exchange Program
  • $ 8,000,000 awarded by MA Division of Marine Fisheries for Blue Economy Initiatives
  • $ 10,000 awarded by One SouthCoast Chamber for One SouthCoast Chamber Strategic Planning Process
  • $ 93,882 awarded by Vineyard Wind for Vineyard Wind 1 LLC - Contract Agreement with UMass Dartmouth

Research

Research interests

  • Economic Sociology
  • Regional Science
  • Economic development
  • Housing Policy
  • Demographics

(On sabbatical in academic year 2025/2026)

Michael D. Goodman, PhD, is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. An economic sociologist and policy analyst, his research focuses on economic development, regional competitiveness, and public policy in Massachusetts and New England.

Professor Goodman is widely recognized as a trusted source of independent analysis for policymakers, the media, and civic leaders. He has served as principal investigator on more than $14 million in external grants and contracts and has authored or co-authored over sixty professional publications on regional economic development, housing policy, demographics, and other applied social science topics.

From 2020 to 2025, Dr. Goodman served in senior leadership roles at UMass Dartmouth, including Acting Provost, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, and Executive Director of Economic Development and Community Partnerships. In these roles he oversaw academic operations, led major strategic initiatives, and advanced the university’s Blue Economy partnerships linking research, industry, and government.

Earlier in his career, Professor Goodman served as UMass Dartmouth’s Faculty Senate President, Chair of the Department of Public Policy, and Executive Director of the Public Policy Center.  Prior to joining UMass Dartmouth, he served for eight years as the Director of Economic & Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute.  

Since 2001, he has served as an Editor of MassBenchmarks, the journal of the Massachusetts economy published by the UMass Donahue Institute in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Additional links